Kangaroo is not a dodo yet

October 13, 1993

Regarding the issue of legalizing the sale of kangaroo meat in Australia as reported in the Monitor: I lived on a Western Queensland cattle and sheep property for 52 years and have experienced droughts and seen pastures eaten out by plague numbers of kangaroos.

Before European settlement, kangaroo numbers in outback Queensland were much lower than today and only increased as settlers built watering points and improved pastures. No one, least of all primary producers, would wish to see kangaroos eradicated.

All shooters must be registered and licensed. Quotas on the number of kangaroos to be killed on a state basis are rigidly adhered to, and no professional shooter wastes expensive bullets on infant kangaroos that will not be accepted at any kangaroo works in Australia. Only adult kangaroos are harvested and are, I would venture to say, killed in just as humane a fashion as most of the fish and domestic animals that are slaughtered for human consumption throughout the world. Hon. N. J. Turner, Nambour, Australia Member for Nicklin Legislative Assembly, Queensland

Your letters are welcome. For publication they must be signed and include your address and telephone number. Only a selection can be published, and none acknowledged. Letters should be addressed to "Readers Write," and can be sent by Internet E-mail (200 word maximum) to OPED@RACHEL.CSPS.COM, by fax to 617-450-2317, or by mail to One Norway St., Boston, MA 02115.One Norway St., Boston, MA 02115.